According to estimates, more than a million children in Asia have been forced into prostitution. Aid organisations have counted more that 150,000 under-age prostitutes in Thailand alone. A further 400,000 minors in India and about 100,000 in the Philippines have suffered the same fate. Aids is a grave problem in many regions of Asia (especially in Thailand, Cambodia and India). Surveys suggest that more than half the under-age prostitutes on the continent are HIV-positive.

If you witness a case of child abuse while you are on holiday abroad you should report this to the tour organiser, the tour guide, and/or the hotel manager. Your embassy and local representatives of non-government organisations also follow up cases reported to them.

Click to the left of the country in the list that you would like to know more about. The glossary can help if there are any terms you don't understand.